Bob Irwin's plea to stop dam

WILDLIFE conservationist Bob Irwin has made an impassioned plea to federal environment minister Peter Garrett, imploring him to “listen to the people” and reject the Traveston Crossing Dam.

The father of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin said approving the project would amount to “environmental vandalism”.

Just days are remaining until Mr Garrett makes his decision on the dam.

Mr Irwin, who founded the Beerwah Reptile Park which grew to become Australia Zoo, will meet with LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek at the dam site today to discuss the impact of the scheme.

Yesterday, he said he found the Bligh government’s dam plan “absolutely astonishing”.

“Please listen to the people, Mr Garrett,” he said. “Approval for this project will be environmental vandalism.”

“At 1.3 times the size of Sydney harbour, the proposed Traveston Dam would block one of the last free flowing rivers on the east coast of Australia.

“The area proposed for destruction on the Mary River has significant ecological and environmental values.

“Some of these are at least five endangered species from the riverbank to the treetops, including the Mary River Turtle, the Queensland Lungfish and the koala.

“I find it absolutely astonishing that in a time when our environment is in such jeopardy, that we should even be discussing this issue of building a dam in such an ecologically sensitive area.”

The controversial $1.8 billion project was approved last month by the state’s coordinator general, subject to 1200 conditions.

Its fate is now in the hands of Mr Garrett, who can ask for an extension past the November 18 decision deadline in deciding whether to grant approval or block its construction.

Mr Irwin’s plea came as opponents of the dam said Mr Garrett’s rejection of a major tourism development on Great Keppel Island had given them new hope. It proves the minister was investigating cases thoroughly, they believe.

“The Great Keppel Island ruling has definitely given us hope the dam won’t go ahead,” Glenda Pickersgill of the Save The Mary River Coordinating Group, said.

“It’s a good sign.”

Mr Langbroek said he wanted Mr Garrett to have no doubts many Queenslanders were completely opposed to the dam.

“This is an ill-planned, badly considered dam that will wipe out the Mary Valley and a number of endangered species,” he said.

Reader poll

Are you opposed to the Traveston Crossing dam?

This poll ended on 30 June 2010.

Current Results

Yes

85%

No

14%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.